Early reports are coming out about a US Navy F-35C that has crashed in the area. The jet was out of Naval Air Station Lemoore in Central California and was apart of VFA-125, The ‘Rough Riders’. VFA-125 is a training squadron.
Details are still coming in but CBS news reports that the crash happened sometimes around 6:30 PM in a small field near West Cadillac and South Dickinson street. Fire fighters announced later that 10 acres of grass had been burned.
We have no info on what caused the accident but we do know that the pilot safely ejected.
On May, 21st at 12:01 AM pacific time the United States Air Force carried out unarmed test launch of the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. the launch was carried out by the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command.
Video of the launch.
The missile was launched from a silo and was carrying a single Mk21 high-fidelity reentry vehicle.
Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launches during an operational test
For the Minuteman III test launch a randomly selected missile was selected from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana and brought to the Western Test Range at Vandenberg.
The test range is located on the very coast of the base giving the military a great line of sight for their radars and other sensors to collect telemetry and other data.
Still image showing the missile silo opening at Vandenberg.Image shows the location I believe to be the launch site an Vandenberg.
“This ICBM test launch underscores the strength of the nation’s nuclear deterrent and the readiness of the ICBM leg of the triad,” said Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command. “This powerful safeguard is maintained by dedicated Airmen – missileers, defenders, helicopter operators and the teams who support them – who ensure the security of the nation and its allies.”
The test was conducted and overseen by Vanderberg’s 377th Test and Evaluation group. Established in 2021, The 377th are the nations only squadron dedicated to testing the nations ICBM stocks.
Minuteman III remains the bedrock of our nations strategic deterrent and the unwavering dedication of the airmen who ensure its readiness are a testament to its inherent lethality. Their expertise and commitment are vital to maintaining the credible force for peace.” Col. Dustin Harmon, 377th Test and Evaluation group.
According to the measurements taken by the, U.S. Army Space and Missile defense command’s Ronald Reagan ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, the ICBM’s reentry vehicle flew 4,200 miles and impacted a predetermined target spot near the USASMDC’s Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Command, (AKA RTS) on Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
These test launches serve several purposes such as putting the readiness of the U.S. ICBM’s on display as well as testing the reliability and accuracy of the systems and providing important data.
The RTS uses wide an array of systems to collect every bit of data including its advanced, high speed optical and long range tracking and imaging radar systems. RTS also analyzes the data collected.
This all falls under the ‘Glory Trip’ missions.
The Minuteman III is currently being phases out and replaced by the LGM-35A Sentinel. The Sentinel is set to replace all 450 Minuteman III missiles and have a service until the 2070’s.
Today, at around 10:15 PDT A US navy Boeing EA-18G Growler Electronic Attack Jet assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135 crashed while taking off at NAS (Navel Air Station) North Island. The pilot and copilot are both unharmed as they ejected into the San Diego harbor and were picked up. The crew were originally picked up by a sport fishing charter boat the M/V Marietta, before being transferred to a Customs and border patrol craft according to radio calls made in the area that were recorded. The customs patrol boat transported them back to shore where they are now receiving medical attention at UC San Diego Health.
With the crew being recovered emergency crews will respond to the wreckage to investigate as well as clean up and debris and fuel from the crash. According to radio calls from the area there is a large amount of fuel and the navy has dispatched response teams.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
CCTV Video shows the EA-18G Growler coming in down in a quick descent. Essentially falling out of the sky. The camera barely catches it.
The aircraft had traveled to San Diego for ongoing exercises, leaving its home airbase at NAS Whidbey Island in Washington State. It’s unknown if the aircraft was taking part in the Bamboo Eagle 25-1 exercise currently taking place in the pacific.
NAS Whidbey Island
Bamboo Eagle is a massive event focused on a possible high stakes conflict in the Pacific Ocean with China. Being led by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center in Nellis it has brought dozens of not hundreds of military aircraft to the region for this combined arms operation with the U.S. and several key allies.
Video taken from twitter user San Diego web cams shows footage from their livestream as well as the radio calls that happens after the crash.
The EA-18G Growler is the U.S. Navy’s Electronic Attack aircraft that began to replace the EA-6B Prowler around the late 2010s. Based on the airframe of the F/A-18(E/F) It has since then become an integral part of the carrier air wing. The Growler swapped out the Super hornets main cannon with a strong AN/APG-79 AESA Radar. The plane has 9 weapons hard points but will almost always have 5 of those hard points taken up by ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming pods. The hard points that are left open are usually equipped with either AIM-120 AMRAAM for air threats or more likely AGM-88 HARM Anti-Radiation Missile that track enemy radar signals. The two wingtip rails that would usually hold AIM-9X sidewinders was replaced for AN/ALQ-218 passive radar warning receivers to detect enemy radar.
While mostly known for jamming enemy radar enemy communication can also be jammed by the Growlers suite of comms jamming systems.
Australian EA-18G Growler
While the growler with its jamming pods can defeat all current air and surface threats it comes up against its future is always in question as new and more advanced radars are developed and fielded and it’s jamming pods become out of date. The airframe is only as good as its equipment that needs to be updated in the near future.
Author note.
We here at GCR respect and appreciate any aircraft and crew capable of the roles of SEAD and DEAD. Suppression and destruction of enemy air defense is one of the most important roles in the always critical task of establishing aerial supremacy. The Growler holds a special place in my heart as did the Prowler that came before. Hats off to all of today and yesterday’s Electronic Attack Planes as well as the F-4 that carried out the insane Wild Weasel missions.
If you are somebody with knowledge of this story contact Scott at GCR. My contact info is on the Website and I would love to talk on or off the record regarding this story.
Global Conflict Reporting 
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